The Pokémon franchise has spawned countless critters over the years, with players stepping into the role of a trainer who aspires to be the very best that no one ever was. Then came Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, which turned them into, well, Pokémon themselves, offering a difference experience altogether.
18 years later, fans will be able to revisit their grand adventure again on a new platform. The Game Boy Advance (GBA) classic is headed to Nintendo Switch Online subscription service on 9 August, joining other spin-off titles like the Pokémon Stadium duology, Pokémon Puzzle League, the Game Boy Pokémon TCG game, and Pokémon Snap on N64.
The re-release of this older entry is a surprise for many, as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, an enhanced remake of the game and its matching counterpart, Blue Rescue Team, is already available on the Switch.
While the news may disappoint longtime enthusiasts who continue to hope for mainline titles like Pokémon Red, Crystal, and Sapphire, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team is still a well-regarded pick. Apart from being the first Pokémon-themed Mystery Dungeon game in franchise history, the 2006 spin-off was also the last game in the series to be released for the GBA.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team was released for the Nintendo DS at the same time, with six exclusive Pokémon, improved power, and dual-screen capabilities in tow. The updated remake of these two entries debuted on the Nintendo Switch in 2020 and introduced a handful of new features, including a personality quiz at the start of the game, a visual overhaul, and more.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
Kaylyn Lim
